These simple tips can help you to have a safer, healthier home.
General Home Preparation
Keep at least one first aid kit in your home. If you have a two story home, place one on each floor.
Place telephones within easy reach of both your bed and the areas you are in most often.
Place emergency phone numbers on every phone in your home, including your cellular phone.
General Child Safety
Babies and children are the most likely family members to be injured in a home accident. They are active, creative, and curious, and no place is safe. One way to anticipate dangers for your children is to go through every room in your home on your knees. This puts you at a child's height and you will readily see hazards you might never notice otherwise. Remember that children have no understanding of the dangers around them and they will climb on, crawl under or over, taste and handle everything in their environment. If something can be done in a dangerous manner, they will do it. So make sure they can grow and explore safely
Use child tamper-resistant locks on all cabinets which contain cleaning fluids, medicines. or any other potentially poisonous ingredients.
Set your water heater at no hotter than 120 degrees. Anything hotter than that runs the risk of severe burns.
Lock down toilet seats with a clamp meant to keep children from opening them. Children can quickly drown in open toilets.
Never leave a child unattended in a bath tub. Tragedies take only seconds!
Place child-locks on ovens, washers, dryers, dishwashers and other potentially dangerous appliances.
Place socket covers on all electrical outlets.
Never leave a child alone with a pet, especially a dog.
Never treat medicine as candy. Children don't know the difference. Keep all medicines in a locked cabinet.
Safety For Babies
Babies spend a lot of time in their cribs. The crib should have a label showing that its construction is safe and approved. Check that the slats are no more than 2 3/8 inches apart and that there is a tight fit where the mattress and the crib wall meet. Be sure the mechanism operating the side-drop has safety catches and is difficult for children to operate. A kick-and-lift mechanism is best because it requires operation that most children are unable to accomplish. The drop side should never go down lower than 9 inches above the mattress and the crib sides should be at least 26 inches above the mattress when raised.
Keep cribs away from windows that may have curtain or blind cords within reach.
Pillows and stuffed animals could be a hazard for very small babies. If their face is buried in the soft pillow or animal, they may be unable to get enough air.
Any furniture used for changing the baby should have a top rail at least 6 inches high and have doors instead of open shelves to keep supplies out of the way. Put safety latches on the doors to keep crawling babies from opening them.
Be sure furniture is sturdy and does not have small bits that can break off or be chewed off, such as wicker. Furniture should be secured so it cannot fall over when a child tries to crawl or climb on it.
Use baby gates to keep crawlers and toddlers from entering unsafe rooms or stairs. Mesh gates are safest and accordion gates should be avoided. A child can fall and catch its head in the V. Mesh gates should have a small mesh to prevent children tangling arms or legs in it. Gates held in place by pressure will work on a level surface but stair gates should fasten securely.
Playpens are great for allowing babies to play safely, but be sure the mesh is too fine to allow fingers or buttons to become entangled.
Never leave babies who can roll over or crawl with dropped sides on cribs or playpens. They can fall from cribs or climb into pockets created by the mesh of playpens.
Once children can climb, keep pillows and toys out of playpens that they might stand on.
Never tie toys or anything else with long cords. They can choke or strangle a baby.
Pacifiers are a great comfort to babies, but be sure that they meet safety standards. They should be strong enough not to come apart or break into small pieces. The mouth guard should be firm and large enough to prevent it from being drawn into the baby's mouth and should have ventilation holes in it. Never use a string or ribbon on a pacifier. Check the pacifier regularly for deterioration and replace it if it shows signs of tears, holes, or weakening texture.
Fire Prevention
Install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms throughout the house. Test them on a regular basis to ensure they work. Batteries should be changed at least once a year.
Place fire extinguishers in the kitchen and other rooms. In addition, place one fire extinguisher in your car. Make sure you know how to use them.
Never smoke in bed.
Turn off appliances when they are not in use.
Run electrical cords along walls, not under rugs. Have a licensed electrician provide all of your electrical needs.
Don't overload outlets and extension cords.
Never store flammable liquids such as cleaning agents and paint supplies near heating units.
Keep space heaters a safe distance from combustible items. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's guidelines.
Have more than one escape route from your home. Practice these routes with your family.
Home Fire Escape Plan
Build a plan of escape to keep you and your loved ones safe if a fire does occur. Know what to do and be sure everyone in the family practices the escape actions. In a fire situation, panic can be as blinding as the flames and smoke.
Find the exits. Be sure that every room in the home has two exits. If you will have to use a window, be sure it can be opened easily by everyone and try to mark it so that it can be found quickly.
Make sure all doors are easy to open. Be sure door locks and security systems can be easily disengaged. Some doors have dead bolt locks that require a key, so be sure the key is within reach of the door and verify that everyone knows where it is and can reach it. Remember, children will not have time to find a step-stool if the key is too high for them to reach.
Create a house floor-plan, marking all exits. Draw out a simple floor plan and post it in every room, marking the exits for that room on the plan. Show the escape route from each room to the outdoor area you have designated as the meeting place. Be sure all levels of the house are mapped.
Designate a meeting location safely away from the house. Everyone should know where they will gather after escaping. This way you will know if anyone is still trapped in the house.
Be sure you have ladder escapes for upper level rooms. The best form of ladder for upper level rooms is the foldable chain escape ladder. It can be kept by the designated escape window. Have regular drills, letting people open the window and hook the ladder over the sill. This practice could save their lives in a panic situation.
Teach everyone that they must not re-enter the building. Pets and possessions left behind could tempt family members back into the building. Explain that such an attempt could result in the death of both rescuer and rescued.
Teach "Stop, drop, and roll". Everyone should be taught what to do if they catch fire. "Stop" means not to run or flail, which feeds the fire. "Drop" means fall to the ground, thus preventing the motion that would fan the flames. "Roll" means to roll back and forth, smothering the flames. If they see someone else in flames, they must do the same for them - get them on the ground and smother the flames with a coat or blanket.
Careful Kitchen Tips
Keep flammable objects such as curtains, aprons and dishtowels away from stoves and ovens.
Never wear loose clothing near a stovetop while cooking.
Never leave cooking unattended.
Heat oil slowly. Heating oil too quickly can easily start a fire.
If a pan catches fire, carefully place a lid over the pan and turn off the heat. Leave the lid on until completely cool.
Always clean appliances and surfaces after cooking to prevent grease buildup.
Make sure handles on cookware are secure and always turned toward the center of the stove when cooking.
Always follow manufacturer's instructions for all of your cooking appliances.
Use a step stool instead of a chair to climb to a high shelf.
Avoid Slips and Falls
Make sure staircases are well lit and have switches at the top and bottom.
Securely fasten all carpeting and make sure all throw rugs or area rugs have non-skid backing.
Install rubber mats or safety decals in bathtubs and showers.
Close cabinet doors and drawers when they are not in use.
Keep staircases and hallways free of clutter.
Never go up and down stairs carrying things that could block your vision or put you off
Dog Bite Avoidance
Be cautious around strange dogs and treat your own pet with respect.
Never leave a baby or small child alone with a dog.
Teach young children to be careful around pets.
Children must be taught NOT to approach strange dogs. Children should be taught to ask permission from a dog's owner before petting the dog.
Don't run past a dog. Dogs naturally love to chase and catch things. Don't give them a reason to become excited or aggressive.
Never disturb a dog that's caring for puppies, sleeping or eating.
If a dog approaches to sniff you—stay still. In most cases, the dog will go away when it determines you're not a threat.
If you're threatened by a dog, remain calm. Don't scream. If you say anything, speak calmly and firmly. Avoid eye contact. Try to stay still until the dog leaves, or back away slowly until the dog is out of sight. Don't turn and run.
If you fall or are knocked to the ground, curl into a ball with your hands over your head and neck. Protect your face.
What to do if you are bitten.
Have a doctor treat your wounds.
If your own dog bit you, confine it immediately and call your veterinarian to check your dog's vaccination records.
If someone else's dog bit you, contact a personal injury attorney immediately.
Contact the authorities and tell them everything you can about the dog: the owner's name, if you know it, color and size of the dog, where you saw it and if you've seen it before. These details may help animal-control officers locate the dog.
